Fruit-pitter.



W. KNOX` AFRUIT RITTER. APPLICATION FILED Ausjz. I9I6.

WITNESS Patented Al'lg. 21, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HLA. 1 -wmf IN I/ EN TOR www #5mg W. KNOX.

FRUIT PTTER.

APPLICATION man AuslG. '1916,

Patented. Aug. 21, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET '3.'

A TTORNEY.

WITNESS 'z-Ef@ W. KNOX.

FRUIT FITTER.

Y APPLICATAION FILED Aue.2e. 19|6.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

v fl SHEETS-SHEET 4- 1N VEN TOR l WITNESS' ATTORNEY.

W. KNOX.

FRUI-T PITTEH.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.26. 191s.

-{. 1I., 9m 1 T 11H I n/Ww bx Wl. Am ms E im 5 Im ow P IIIIIIIIImIIII .wwl kl INNI n A8 2 5 7 3 2 1 WITNESS ,xnbM R.. Y @MMM R www mw A B INNIMM.

WILLIAM Invoices SAN FRANCISCO, oALIisortiviIA rEUIT-IITTER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 6, 1916. Serial No. 117,037.

l'o all 'w/wm t may concern.'

Beit known that I, .WILLIAM KNOX, a citizen of'the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Pitters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for cutting fra-it,- sueli as apricots, peaches and the like, and for removing the pits therefrom.

In the cutting and pitting of fruit,v suoli as peaches and apricots, particularly when said fruit is halved, it is highly desirable that the fruit should -loe eut in the plane of the greatest diameter of the pit, that-is on the so-called seam of the fruit. The pit cavity in fruit halved in this manner is relatively shallow2 thereby facilitating the subsequent handling ofv the fruit, especially in.

the sulfuring, washing and drying thereof, and permitting the easy `removal of the pit therefrom.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a machine for cutting` such fruits upon -the seam andfor removing the Apits therefrom. A further object of they invention is to eliminate practically all of the hand labor, ordinarily performed, in the cutting and pitting of the' fruit', by providing a machine in which the fruit is antomatically received and correctly positioned,

and is halved and pitted, while so positioned, and in whichv the cui fruit and the pits are automatically deposited upon Silitable eonvevers` and thereby discharged from the machine.

` In the preferredforni of the machine hereinafter describedand herewith illusirated. these discharge conveyors comprise `trays, of the type usually used for the drying of fruit, and suitable mechanism for advancing the.y same. The halved fruit is autoinatieally deposited upon the fruit tray in the 4 correct position for drying, that is, cut side up, in such it manner as tocompletcly fill said tray as it is advanced through the iiiachine; The pits are likewise deposited, and

`spread upon a similar tray, which is also completely filled.

To this end my invention consists' .in the,n

novel machine hereinafter described with reference to the' accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein `Figure 1 is a side elevation of the niachine, certain parts being shown in phantom for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a partly broken plan view of the machine, certain partsv being omitted for the sake of clear-ness. f

Fig. 3 is 'a vertical part-sectional detail, enlarged, of the cutting and pitting knives and the mechanism for positioning the fruit.

Fig. 4 is a part-sectional plan, enlarged,

Patented Aug. 21, 19.17.. l l

of a portion of the knife operating mech-i;

anism.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan of a pair of theA feed rollers.

Fig. 6 is a detailed elevation taken on the y line 6.-6 of Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows'.

Fig.A 7 is a detailed section through the knives, taken on the line 74-7 of Fig. 3 and viewed. in the dii'ectioii of thel arrows.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional detail taken' on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4, and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional detail taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. `hand viewed iii-thel-` Fig. 11 is a detailed side elevation of the pit-discharge mechanism,l certain parts be* ing omitted.

Fig; 12 .is an end elevation of thel same. Fig. 13 is a parl-sectional plan detail of a pair ot the fruit holding arias.

Fig. ll is a transverse part-sectional de-Y A tail of one oll the 'eed bells anda portion of the pulleyI therefor.

Vlnl the drawings. and referring.particularly to Fig. l lhereol. lhe reference numeral l represents the :nain supporting frame of the machine. iu ihe'upper portion ol' which is journaled Ya transversely disposed driveshaft Q, Figs. Vl and?. drive pulley indicated in dotted lines at in Fig. l. is,` mounted upon one end of said drive shaft' 2, and is adapted lo receive power from an outside source. not shown in the drawings.

On the opposite. end of the drive shaftQ is fixed agear S. l-and 2 o'f the drawings, which is adapted to mesh with a simieach pair being fthe lower end ti lar gear 4, fixed upon the end of a shaft 5 journaled in the frame 1, and disposed parallel to the drive shaft 2. A pair of idler gears 6 and 7 transmit power from said gear 4 to a gear 8 fixed upon the end of the transverse shaft 9 in such manner that said shafts 5 'and 9 rotate in unison and in opposite directions.

Positioned adjacent to the main frame 1 is a feeder frame 10, Fig. 1,A upon which is mounted an upwardly inclined feed table 11, over which travel a series of parallel spaced feed belts 12. Said feed belts are carried by shafts 13 and 14, upon each of which is mounted a drum 15, having a series of s aced pulley portions 16, Figs. 6 and 14, a ternating with a series of spacer portions 17 of larger diameter than said pulley portions. The shaft 13 is intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, by means of-sprcket chains 18 connecting said shaft 13 with a parallel shaft 19, carried by the main frame 1, and driven intermittently by means of a ratchet 20 and a -pawl 21 carried on the end of a rod 22, and connected with the strap 23 of an eccentric 24, the latter being mounted on the continuously driven shaft 9.

The feed belts 12 carry spaced cups 25, Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 14, alternating with spacer blocks 26, each of said cups25 being adapted to receive and carry a'fruit. The fruit is fed into the machine Iany convenient manner. In the drawings I have indicated, at 27, Figs. 1 and 2, a shaker table having baille plates 28 adapted to direct the fruit from said shaker table onto the cup carrying belts 12. In case the fruit should pile up upon lsaid belts, or become misplaced, a spreader roll 29, Fig. l, is provided, said roll bein positionedl transversely, with respeet Vto te belts 12, and elevated thereabove suliiciently to permit the passage thereunder of asin le fruit on each belt. Said spreader roll 29 1s continuously driven, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, by means of a belt 30 assing over a pulley 31 upon a' transversl shaft 32 journaled upon the main vframe 1 and driven from the shaft 5 by means of a train of gears 5', 33,4and 34. Thus the fruit is spread out upon the belts l2 by means. of the preader roll 29, and is positioned upon thencups 25.

The fruit 1s carribd y said cups-25 and deposited thereby upon downwardlyl inclined feed rolls 35, Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Said rolls are mounted in pairs, the two rolls of each pair being driven inopposite 4d'irections by means of bevel pinions 36, Fig. 3, fixedn to the lower ends of said rolls, and meshing with similar inions 37 carried by the shaft 32. The ro ls 35 are slightly tapered, es shownr in Fi 5, the surfaces of sligh y fart-her apart at an at the upper end. The

fruit, thrown onto the upper ,end of said pairs of rolls 35, rolls down towardy the lower end thereof, by gravity', and is agitated during its passage by the opposite rotation of the rolls 35. The result of this action is to cause the fruit to assume a .position between said rolls 35 with its greatest diameter lying in a vertical plane. Each pair of rolls 35 is preferably mounted for relative adjustment laterally, to vallow the correct spacing thereof to permit the fruit to pass therover without falling through; said adjustable mounting of the rolls 35 may be of any well known form, and is therefore notshown in the drawings.

Carried by the shaft 32 is a series of disks 38, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, each having a pair of segmental portions removed therefrom, upon opposite sides, as shown at 39 in Fig. 3. Said disks 38 are disposed upon the shaft 32 in pairs, one pair being positioned in rei lation to and between the lower ends of each pair of feed rolls 35, as seen in Fig. 2. The cut out portions 39 of each pair of disks 38 have inwardly beveled edges 39', thereby forming cups for thel reception of the fruit as it leaves the feed rolls 35, said fruit being prevented from leaving said feed rolls, except when said cut out portions 39 pass thereunder, by the solid portions 38 of saidv disks.

To correctly position the fruit within the cups so formed, I provide a, pair of kicker arms 40 positioned immediately outside of the disks 38, that is, between said disks and the lower ends of the feed rolls 35, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Said kicker arms 40 are fulcrumed at 41, Fig.

3, and are operated by means of a roller 42 adapted to follow a cam 43 mounted upon the continuously rotating'shaft 9, a spring 44 causing said roller 42 to follow the surface of said cam. Said kicker arms 40 are actuated twice during everyrevolution ofy shaft 32, and are elevated by the described mechanism to strike the fruit resting within the cups 39 upon its sides, and by so doing,.

to correctly center said fruit within said cups. Thus the fruit, rolling down the feed rolls 35, is positioned within the cups 39 formed by the disks 38, with its seam in a vertical plane.

The shaft 32 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, and carries the fruit into the position A, between a pair of swinging gripper arms 45. Said arms are fulcrumed upoli a transverse shaft 46, and

ca rry at theirlower ends'flexible cups 47, Figs. 2,3 and 13, adapted to vgrip and hold the fruit as it 1s carried therebetweenby the rotation of the shaft 32. Saidv arms 45 are actuati l to grip the fruit by means of a shaft 48, Figs. 2 and 13, said shaft being l positioned parallel to the shaft 46 and supported therefrom bv means of pivotallv -of said cam mounted links, one of which is shown at 49 1n Fig. 2. pair of intermeshing gears 50 and 5l fixed lrespectively upon the shafts 46 and 48 impart rotation to said shaft4 48,

the shaft 46' being rotated by means of the gear 38, Figs. l and 2, to which it is fixed. The shaft 48 passes through the arms 45, as shown `in Fig. 13, and carries between each pair of said arms a double fared cam 52. Each of the arms 45 carries an adjustable cam follower 53, adapted to engage the face 52, and by so doing to move said arms 45 laterally to cause the same to be separated or brought together. To permit of thislateral movement, the arms 45 are freely fulcrumed upon the shaft 46, as shown at 54, Fig. 13, and a spring 65 is provided to hold the rear ends of said arms against shoulders 56 upon sail shaft 46.

Springs 57 are provided upon t e shaft 48 to lorce lthe forward ends of each pair of arms 45 together as far as the cams 42 will shafts 5 and 9. Mounted for by mean permit.

The shaft 48 carries near each end a pivotally mountcd'cam followinglink 58, one

of which is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Said link slides within a guide 59 whose lower end embraces and is journaled upon the V'shaft 5. A cam 60, fixed uponA said shaft 5, operates within the guide 59, and bears against the lower end of the link 58. Thus of said cams 60 and said links 58, the shaft 48 is moved bodily' up and down about the shaft 46 as a'cen'ter, and this movement of the shaft 48 swings the entire series of fruit carrying arms 45 between the twopostions A and B, shown in broken and fulllii'ies respectively, in Fig. 3. The action of the parts just described is so timed relative to the rotation of the shaft 32, that each fruit carried by the disks 38 of said shaft 32, is clampedat the position A, Fig. 3, by the inwardl movement of the arms 45, and. is thereafter carried by said arms to the position Bf IAtI the position B, Fig. 3, the fruit coi'- rectly positioned'and held by the arms 45, is halved and pitted by the following mechanisrnzl-v-Ca'rried by each end of each of the shafts 5 and 9 are inwardly extending link members 61 and 62, Figs. 2 and 4, the members 61- being carried by the shaft 5, and the members 62 being carried by the shaft 9. The members k6l and 62 are in axial alinement, and are connected by a dowel lpin 63, thus forming virtually a continuous connecting bar carried by the ends of said sliding movementin a longitudinal direction upon `the members 61 and 62, are two spaced` pairs of .transverse knife-holding bars 64 and 65, re-

. spectively. Each of said pairs of bars 64 entire machine, as

. tween said bars 64, as show supports a set of pair of swinging fruit carrying arms 45.

`All of said knife sets are identical in form and construction, one of said sets being illusi trated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Pivotall y mounted the bars 64, Fig. 3, is a longitudinally dis, posed spindle 66 carrying a curved inwardly extending arm 67, jecting outwardly pair of alined `spaced knife-blades 68, said Figs. 3 and 7, .and'prro-W from said arms 67 is a- `70 in the lower'portion of n bladeslbcing preferably rounded at their..

ends as shown' at 69 said rounded end andthe inner edge 69', and having a. lateral flange 68 formed along the .back of th'e uppermost blade of the pair. The transverse bars 65 carry otally mounted spindle 70 wardly blades 68.` As shown in the drawings, the blades 68 and 72 overlap and their against each other.

mounted spindle 73 is 64 above and in vertical alinen'ientvf'ith the spindle 66, anda similar spindle 7 5 is simiand sharpened along seA larly carried by the bars 65 in axial aline` ment with said spindle 73. Said spindles- 73 .I

and 75 have formed upon their ends respec-k a tively blades 74 and 76 formed inthe shapeof across, as shown in Fig. 7, andhavingtheir vertically disposed portions 74 and 7 6` extended farther than their horizontally i and 76, as shown in.,- Fig. 3, and being sharpened on all exposed:

disposed portions 7 edges. The ends of said cross knives 74 and-` 76 thus form cups adapted, whenbrought i together, to ,embrace and clamp the pit of'` the fruit at the position B. l

The spindles/73 and 75v are hollow, as

shown in Fig. `3, and carry withinxthem slidably mounted ejector rods 77 and 7 8re.- spectively. The inner ends 77 and 78 of these rodsai'eerss slotted to pass over the cross-knife blades 74'and 7 6, illuslratedl in Figs. 3 and 7. 78 Aproject from `the spindles 73 and 75 back of the transverse bars 64 ends are pivotally verse rods or bars 79 and 80,respectively,

adapted to be engaged by cams 8l and 82,

and 65, and their, mounted within trans- Said ejector rods 77 and mounted on the respective shafts 5 and 9.. i

Springs 83and 84 normally hold tlieejcctor rods 77 and 78 Fig. 3.

in the positions shown in p 120 Fixed upon the spindles 66 and 73 between the bars 64, are

pinions 85 and 8,6-, Figs. 3,` l4, 9 and 10, adapted to mesh witlra trans,

versely disposed rack 87` slidably carried be-` v end of said rack 87 is adapt by a trigger lever 88, Figs. ed within an aperture 89' in the longitudinally disposed member 61, 90. A slidably mounted pin 91, disposed in Fig.`4. VThe, d to be engaged A 4 and 8, mount- .v

and fulcrumed atv longitudinally within said member 61, has

one of its ends bearing against a shoulder 92 of said trigger 88, and its other end following a cam 93 `mounted upon theshaft 5. Thus the action of said cam 93 causes the rack member 87 to be moved transversely within the transverse bars 64, it being understood that a similar cam and trigger lever, not shown in the drawings, are provided at the other. end of said rack 87to move the same in the other direction.

The opposite spindles 70 and 75 carry pinions 94 and 95, respectively, adapted to be engaged by respective transversely disposed rack members 96 and 97, Fig. 10. Said rack members 96 and 97 are actuated by mechanism similar to that described in the preceding paragraph, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 4, as comprising a trigger lever 98 fulcrumed at 99, within the longitudinal member 62, and a slidably mounted pin 100. Said' pin 100 bears against a cam, not shown in Fig. 4. It is to be understood,

however, that there is a trigger mechamsm at each end of the rack members 97 and 98,

. operated by cams mounted upon the shaft 9, one of which is shown at 101 in Fig. 3.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 10 of the drawings, that a transverse movement of the rack member 87 causes the spindle 66 to be rotated to swing the knife blades 68 downwardly and at the same time causerthe rotation of the spindle 7 3, carrying the cross knife blade 74. Parallel and simultaneous movement of the rack members 96 and 97 causes the spindle 70 to be rotated to swing the knife blades 72 downwardly in a direction opposite to the swinging movement of the knife blades 68, and at 4the same time causes the spindle 75 carrying the cross-knife blade 76 to rotate in the same direction as the spindle 73.

The transverse bars 64 have secured to them a pair 0f spaced rearwardly extending yoke brackets 102, Fig. 4, between which op crates a cam 103 mounted upon the shaft 5. A pair of rollers 104, carried by said brackets 102, follow the surface of said cam 103 and cause the bars 64 to be moved bodily fore and aft. It is understood' that a similar pair of brackets and a similar cam, not shown in the drawings, are mounted upon the other side of the machine at the opposite ends of the transverse bars o4. Inlike manner the transverse bars have rearwardly extending brackets 105 which carry rollers 106 adapted to follow cams, one of which is shown at 107, Fig. 3, mounted upon the shaft 9. As before stated, the cam shafts 5 and 9 rotate continuously in unison and in opposite directions; therefore the movements of the transverse knife bars 64 and 65 direction.

The fruit, as previously described, isfposi-u tioned between the cups 47 of the swinging arms 45 atthe positiony B, Fig. 3, with the seam or greater diameter of said fruit lying in a vertical lane, and in vertical alinement with the rnives 68 and 72.

During this positioning of the fruit, the transverse bars, 64 and 65, carrying the knives, have beeld separated by theirl respective cams 103 and 107, so that the fruit may be carried into said position B by the arms 45 without interfering with said knives. Immediately after the fruit has been so positioned, `the bars 64 and 65 are brought together by their respective cams, causing the knife blades1 68 and 72 to enter the fruit, in a vertical plane. The pit of the fruit lies between the spaced'farms of said knife blades 68 and 72 and is clamped between the cross knife blades 74 and 76, which also enter the fruit for this purpose.v

To allow for inequalities of size in the pit, the spindles 73 and 75 carrying said cross knife blades 74 and 76, are backed by compression springs, one of 4which is shown'at 75. Similar springs 66v and 70' are provided upon the knife spindles 66 and 70 respectively, to allow the knives 68 and 72 to give slightly in the event of one or both striking the pit. The swinging arms 45 are now separated laterally to free the fruit, and returned to the position A, Fig. 3, by the cam 60. The fruit is thus held by the knives 68 and 72, which have bisected it, and

thepit is held clamped between the cross knives 74 and 76. The transverse rack members 87, 96, and 97 are then actuated by their respective cams 93 and 101, causing the knife blades. 68 and 72 to swing outwardly and downwardly in opposite directions, thereby separatino' the two halves of the bisected fruit arid tfreeing the same from the pit, the iianges 68, and 72 at the upper edges of said knife blades serving to properly guide the bisected fruit. At the same time, the cross blades 74 and 76 are rotated in the same direction to assist in the freeing of said pit.

The two halves of the fruit fall away from .the knife blades 68 and 72, and drop upon a tray 110, Figs. 1 and 2. Said tray is carried by a traveling belt conveyer, comprising two spaced parallel chains 111, running over sprockets 112 and 113, mounted upon the shaft 19 and a shaft 114, respectively, and carrying transverse connecting bars 111. Said conveyer, therefore, moves intermittently, driven by the intermittent rotation of the shaft 19, and carries the tray 110forward, in the direction of the arrow by a series of intermittent movements, the movement of each step being a proximately equal t0 the diameter of the ruit. The halved fruit is thus deposited, cut side up, in transverse rows upon the tray, said tray being completely'illed in its passage through the separated by their respective cams 103 and i, and the pit, which up to this time has been held between the cross knives 74 and 7G, is freed. At the same time the ejector rods 77 and 78 are held against outward movement by the respective cams 81 and 82, so that as said cross knives 74 and 76 are withdrawn, the innei` end 7T and 78 of said ejector rods are forced out over. said cross knives 74: and 76 to remove the pit' therefrom, in case it should cling to one or the other of said knives.

On each side of the machine is mounted a longitudinally disposed shaft shown at 115 and 115 respectively, in Figs. 1, 4, 11 and 12, saidshafts being rotated by a helical gear, one of which is shown at 116, Fig. 1, which meshes with andis driven by a similar gear 117, mounted 'upon the drive shaft 2; .The shafts 115 and 115 are splined, las seen in Fig. 3, and carry slidably mounted conveyer .belt pulleys 118, Fig. 12, mounted Within sliding brackets, one being shown at 11,9,V

Fig. A conveyor belt 120 operates over said pulleys 118 and has its upper run lying within a trough 121. The bracket 119, Fig.

l3, has connected thereto a lever 122, fulerumed at 123 and connected, by means of a link-1241, wi'tha cam follower 125 adapted to follow a cam 126 mounted upon the shaft 5. It is to be understood that the brackets 119, upon both sides of th'e machine, are similar, and are connected, by similar mechanism, with similar cams, mounted upon both ends of the shaft 5, so that by the rotation of said shaft 5, the conveyer trough 121 and the conveyor belt 120l are moved bodily fore and kaft.

During the removal of the halved fruit from the knives 6 8 and 72, and the dropping thereof into the fruit tray 110, the conveyer belt` 120 occupies the position shown in Fig. -Imn'iediately after said removal of the halved fruit, and previous to the described release of the pit from the cross knives 74 and 7G, the conveyer belt 120 is moved into av position, `not shown inthe drawings, be-

neath said pit. The pit therefore drops, 4'uhen released, upon the conveyer belt 120. and is carried thereby into a discharge chute '127, Figsll and 12, by which it is conveyed into a 'inovjable hopper 128 having a downwardly extending spout 129. Said hopper is fulcrumcd at 130, Fig. l2, upon a'fixed bracket v131, and is swung from side to side by. a connecting link 132, pivotally connected to a. crank pin 1355 carried bythe idler gear'?.

Beneath the swinging hopper spout 129 is in all its steps.

positioned a tray 134,` Figs. 1, 11 and 12,

rotated to move the tray 134 slowly across the machine, beneath the hopper spout 1 29,

by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism' 137 operated by aconnecting rod 138, Whose upper end is fixed to a strap 139surrounding an eccentric 140, carried upon the end of the longitudinal shaft 115. Thus the released pits, falling through the hopper spout 129, are spread or scattered upon the pit tray 134, as the same is slowly advanced through the machine. Said tray may be removed, When full, by any convenient means, not shown in the drawings, and an empty tiav substituted therefor.

is to be understood that the machine may havens many sets of knives as is civenient or desirable, it being preferable to have a suiicient number of sets of knives to cut, at each Stroke, a sulieient quantity of fruit to make one complete row transversely across the tray. There is onefeed belt 12,` one pair of feed rolls 35, onecpair of cupped feed disks upon the shaft 32, and one vpair of swinging fruit'holding arms 45 for each knife set. All of said sets of mcchanism work simultaneously, so that one fruit is acted upon in each set of knives. All of the'.X fruit halved and pitted at each operation is"- simultaneously deposited upon the fruit tray .110, and all of the pits Vare simultaneously dropped onto the conveyor belt 120 andremoved thereby through the hopper 128 and the spout 129 Ato the pit tray 134.

Said roller is car- The. operation of the machine may be briefly summarized as follows, the course of one fruit through the machine being traced The fruit, Passing from the shaker table 27, Figs. 1 and 2, is deposited within one of the cups 25 of one of the feed belts 12, and .is carried thereby to the upper end of the pair of spaced feed rolls 35 in alineinent therewith. Said fruit then rolls down upon said feed rolls, assuming a position with its greatest diameter or seam lying in. a vertical plane. At the lower end of said' feed rolls 35, the fruit is picked up by the cupped disks 38, and is correctly centered thereon, by the kicker arms 40, Figs. 2 and 3.

The operating mechanism is so timed that the feed belt l12 delivers one fruit to the upper endof the rolls 35 for every fruit removed from the lower end thereof byv the cupped disks 38. The rolls 35, however, arel preferably kept full, that is, with a solid line offruit from end to ond thereof, so' that there will be no interruption in the fruit fed to the knives, even though an occasional cup 25 of the feed belt 12 fails to pick up a fruit from the shaker table 27. The supply ot' fruit on the rolls 35'is replenished, when it Fig. 3, with its seam still lying in a vertical` plane. The fruit is then halved by the.

knives 68 and 72 in the plane of its seam, and is held by said knives and the cross knives 74 and 76, while the swinging. arms 45 are laterally separated and returned to their former position. The knives 68 and 72, Figs. 3 and 7, then separate, swinging outwardly and downwardly, and throw the vbisected fruit upon the fruit tray 110, Fig. 1. The pit conveyer 120 then moves into a p0- sition beneath said knives and catches the pit, when the same is released by the separation of said knives. From the conveyer belt 120, the pit is dropped through the swinging hopper and spout l128 and 129 onto the pit tray 134.-.

Thus the fruit is halved in the plane of its seam or greatest diameter, and is automatically deposited upon a tray in preparation for drying or any other desired operation, and the pits are automatically deposited upon a separate tray upon .which they also may be dried, or otherwise treated. Moreover, the o eratioh of the machine is continuous; frult is fed into the machine from the shaker table; empty trays are successively placed upon the tray. conveyers and the filled trays are successively removed therefrom.

I claim 1. A machine for the described purpose;

' separating the pit therefrom.

2. A machine for the described purpose,l

comprising means for receiving and holding the fruit to be cut, a conveyer belt for,

feeding said fruit to said receiving and holding means, said belt having a series of fruit holding cups mounted thereon, means for halving the fruit in the plane of its greatest diameter, and means for separating the pit from the halved frult.

3. A machine for the described purpose, comprising means for receivingand holding the fruit to be cut, a conveyer belt for feeding said fruit to said receiving and holding means, said belt being provided with a series of fruit holding cups, devices for positioning the fruit within saidcups means for halving the fruit in the plane o its greatest diameter while held by said rev downwardly inclined rolls the fruitl with its greatest diameter in a.

'comprising means for receivi ceiving and holdin Ineens, and means ffor separating the pit rom the halved fruit- 4. A machine for the described purpose, comprising means for receiving and holding the fruit to be cut, a conveyer belt for feeding said fruit to said receiving and holding means, said belt having a series of fruit holding cups mounted thereon, a rotating spreader roll spaced above said belt for positioning the fruit within said cups and means for cutting the fruit while hel by said receiving and holdin means,

5. A machine for the descri ed purpose, comprising means fork receiving'and hold-V ing the fruit to be cut, a plurality of arallel conveyer belts for feeding said uit to said receiving and holding means, each `belt having a series of fruit holding cups means, the space between said rolls being greater at their lower ends than at their upper ends, means for halvin the fruit in the plane of its greatest iameter, and means for separating the pit from the halved fruit.

7. A machine for the described purpose, comprising means for receiving and holding the fruit to be cut, a pair `of spaced downwardly inclined tapering rolls adapted to convey the fruit to said receiving and holding means, mechanism for rotating said rolls in opposite directions, and means for cutting the fruit held by said receiving and holding means.

8. A machine for the described purpose, comprising means for receiving and holding the fruit to be cut, a pair of' spaced or positioning vertical plane, devices for transferring saidfruit from said rolls to said r'eceiving and holding means, and means for cuttin the fruit, while held by said receiving and 'oldi ing means, in the plane of, its greatest diameter, and for removing the pit therefrom.

9. A machine for the described purpose,

ing the fruit to be cut, means or positioning the fruit with its greatest diameter in a given plane, devices for transferring the fruit from said positioning means to said receiving and holding means, means for cutting the fruit, while held by said receivand hold- ,ing and holding means, in theplaneof its greatest diameter, and mechanism for operating said transferring devices, lsaid receiving and holding means, and said cutting 'means in timed relation. 4

y 10. Ainacliine for the describedlpurpose,

i comprising means for lialving the fruit in the plane of its greatest diameter and for removing the pit therefrom, a pair of movable gripper arms adaptedvto received the 'fruit and position the same Within the l' 4r sphere of action' of said lialving means, and

`swinging gripper arms adapted to receive means for feeding the fruitto said gripper arms. v

` 11. A -machine for thedescribedpiirpose,

comprising means Aitor Ahalving'g the fruit in the plane of itsg-reatest diameter, a pair of said fruit and position the same Within the spherev of action of said halving means, and ni'eafi, for-feeding the fruit to said gripper arms.

12.:y A. machine for the described purpose,

Jcomprising means for cutting the fruit and removing the pit therefrom, a pair of swinging ripper arms, 'provided with Y 'flexible fruit holding members, adapted to 'receive the fruit and osition the same Within the sphere Iof action of said cuttingr means, and means for feedinglthe fruit to said gripper arms.

13. A machine for4 the described purpose, comprising means for positioning the fruit to be cut, means for discharging the cut portions of said fruit, devices for entering the :ti-uit and holding the pit therein, a pair. of cutting knives adapted to cut the fruit, and means for moving said cutting kniveso klaterally to separate .the cut portions of the n fruit from .the'held pit and to deposit the same, with the cut side uppermost, upon.

said 'dischar ing means.

14.7`A mac ine foibthe described,` purpose, i

I comprising means for positioning the fruit to be cut, lmeans for discharging the '.c'u'to portions of the fruit, devices fon entering 'the fruit and holding the pit therein, a pair of 'cutting knives adaptedto halve the fruit fin a vertical plane, and means for moving said cutting knives laterally to separate the halves of the fruit from' the pit, and to deposit the same, in a horizontal position with the eut side uppermost, upon said discharging means. l

15. machine 'For the described purpose, comprising means for positioning the fruit to he, cut` means for discharging the cut v.portions of the fruit, devices for entering .they fruit and holding the pit therein, a pair oi"cuttinglmires adapted to halve the fruit in a 'vertical plane.'v means for moving said "cutting knives` laterally to separate the halves ol the fruit from the held iiruit, and lo deposit the same upon said discharg. ing means, and outwardly progecting lips cause the cut portions of the fruit formed POU the 11p-per edges of said cui;

ting knives for guiding the halves of the fruit into, position upon said discharging means.

- 16. A machine for the describedr puip,o Se,-fl comprising means for positioning and holds ing the fruit to be cut, devices for .entering the fruit and holding the pit therein,means coacting therewith for cutting the fruit and Ksepa-rating the cut portions thereof from said pit,;and means associated Withsaid pitholding devices for removing the pit therefrom after the separation of said fruit from said pit. l

17. A machine for the described purpose,

lcomprising' means for positioning and holding the fruit to be cut, a pair of oppositeiyr operating devices Afor entering the fruit and cause the cut portions of the fruit to be separated from the pit. 19. A machine for the described. purpose,

comprising means for positioning the fruit.

te be' cut, dev1ces for entering th' fruit and holding the pit therein, nieaiscc-.cacting therewith for cutting the fruit, and mechanism forviiioving said pit lholding devices and said cutting nie'ans"independently, to to be separated fromthe pit. .f

20. A machine for the described purpose, comprising means for positioning the fruit to be cnt, a pair of oppositely" operating knives, adapted to enter Athe fruit and to hold the pit therein, means for cutting the fruit and for removingthe cut portions thereof, and nieansforI rotating said pit holding knives to separate said pit from the cut portions of the fruit.

21.'.A machinefor the described purpose, ci'nnprisi'ng means for positioning the fruit to be cut, a pair of oppositely operating 120 knives adapted to enter said fruitand to hold the pit therein, a pair of co-acting knives adapted to cut the fruit, and mechanism for moving said'cutting knives laterally in opposite directions to separate the `rcut portions of said fruit and free the vsame from said pit.-

22. A lmachine foi-the described purpose,

comprising means for positioning the fruit i to he cut, alpair ot 'oppositely operating 'A knives adapted to enter the fruit and to hold '25 greatest diameter and for removing the the pit therein, a pair of co-acting cutting knives adapted to cut said fruit, mechanism for swinging said cuttlng knives 1n opposite directions to separate the cut portions ofsaid fruit from said pit, and mechanism for simultaneously rotating said pit holding knives to 'assist the separation of said pit.

23. A machine for the described purpose,

. com rising means for ositionino the fruit simultaneously moving` said cutting knives.

laterally to separate the cut portions of the i fruit from the pit.

24. A machine for the described purpose, comprising means for holding and positioning the fruit to be cut, means for entering said fruit and holding the pit therein, means for halving said fruit in the plane of its halves thereof from said pit, means for discharging the halved fruit, and devices associated Withsaid halving means for depositing the halved fruit upon said discharging means.

25, A machine for the described purpose, comprising means forpositioning and holding the fruit to be cut, means for'entering said fruit and holding the pit therein, means for halving said fruit in the plane of its greatestl diameter, conveyin means for carrying theiut fruit out o the machine,

and means for separating the halves of said fruit from said pit -and depositing the same upon said conveying means.

26. A machine for the described purpose, comprising means for positioning and holding the fruit to be cut, devices for cutting said ,fruitland separating the cut portions thereof frm the pit, a traveling conveyer for receivin the pits from said cutting and separating evices, a tray adapted to receive said pits, a" swinging hopper for receiving said pits from said conveyer and distributing the same ,upon said tray, and mechanism for advancing said tray' beneath said hopu 'and to hold the'pit therein, mechanism for actuating said knives to cause them to grip and relasesaid pit, a pair of co-acting knives associated with said pit holdingl knives for cutting said fruit and removing the cut portions thereof from said pit, means for receiving and discharging the cut portions of the fruit prior to the release of said pit by said pit-holding knives,v and a movable conveyer adapted to be positioned beneath said knives, after the removal oftfhe cut portions of the fruit, for receiving and discharging the pit.

28. A machine for the described purpose, comprising a pair of swinging arms adapted to hold and position the fruit to be cut, means for feeding said fruit to said arms, a pair of oppositely operating knives adapted to enter the fruit and to hold the ,pit therein, a pair-of cutting knives associated with said pit-holding knives for cutting the fruit, means for moving said cutting knives laterally to separate the cut portions of said fruit from said pit, and means for separately discharging the cut portions of the fruit and the pit. 0

29. A machine for the described purpose, cdmprising means for receiving the fruit to be cut and positioning the same with its greatest diameter in a given plane, a pair of swinging arms for holding said fruit in said position, a pair of oppositely operating lmives adapted to enter the fruit and to hold the pit therein, a pair of cutting knives associated with `said pit-holding knives for cutting the fruit'in said plane of its greatest diameter, mechanism for moving said cutting knives laterally and for simultaneously rotating said pit-holding knives to separate the cut portions of the frit soY from the pit, and means for separately diih charging said e'ut portions of the fruit and said pit.

30. A machine for the described purpose, comprising a plurality of pairs of swinging gripper arms adapted to receive.'and hold the fruit to be cut, devices for simultaneously feeding a ,fruit to each of said pairs of arms, a plurality of oppositely operating pairs of knives adapted to enter the fruit and to hold the pits therein, a plurality of cutting knives associated with said pit holding knives for cutting said fruit and for removing the cut portions thereof from said pits, and devices common to all of said knives'for separately' discharging the cut portions of the fruit and the pits.

31. A machine for the described purpose, comprising a plurality of simultaneously operating pairs of swinging gripper arms thereof from the held pit, movable discharging means for receiving the halves of said fruit from all of said cutting knives and conveying the same out of the machine, a second movable discharglng means for reeeivi'ng the lpits from said pit-holding In testimony whereof Ihave signed my knives and conveying the same out of the name to this specification the presence of machine, devices for removing said pits two subscribing witnesses.

from said pit-holding knives, means for dis- WILLIAM KNOX.

` tributing said pits upon said second dis- Witnessesr` charging means, and mechanism for operat- WM. F. BOOTH, ing all of said parts in timed rela-tion. D. B. RICHARDS. 

